Brisk Walking to Lose Weight

by
JAY SCHWARTZ Last Updated: Nov 10, 2015

Jay Schwartz

Jay Schwartz has had articles printed by the "Chicago Tribune," "USA Today" and many other publications since 1983. He's covered health, fitness, nutrition, business, real estate, government, features, sports and more. A Lafayette, Pa. college graduate, he's also written for several Fortune 500 corporate publications and produced business newsletters.

Regular brisk walking spurs weight loss, according to "Controlling Cholesterol." The book, by well-known heart surgeon Dr. Kenneth Cooper, defines brisk walking as 3.2 mph. "The Well Adult" book defines 3.75 mph as the brisk-walking speed, and the State of Wisconsin's "Calories Burned Per Hour" standards define walking 4 mph as a "very brisk pace." Regardless of the definition, you can lose more weight by walking briskly than by walking slowly.

Long-Term Weight Loss

Losing weight quickly is very difficult because you must burn 3,500 calories to lose one pound, and you need to eat between 1,600 and 2,400 calories daily to have the energy to exercise, The Merck Manual of Medical Information reports. Nevertheless, walking is an excellent weight-loss exercise because people who walk regularly for several years weigh an average of 18 pounds less than non-walkers, according to a Dec. 3, 2008, article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Short-Term Weight Loss

The average person loses 300 calories per hour walking briskly and 210 calories per hour walking slowly, according to "The Well Adult," a book that defines "brisk" as 3.75 mph and "slow" as 2.5 mph. Walking indoors or outdoors helps you lose weight because "Controlling Cholesterol" reports that young men walking briskly 3.2 mph for 90 minutes per day, five days a week on a treadmill for "just a few months" lost more than 12 pounds each.

Better Posture

You will lose more weight if you improve your walking technique so you "boost your walking speed," according to the book "The Complete Guide to Walking." “Faster walking starts with sound posture,” writes author Mark Fenton. Your posture should be as upright as possible as long as you’re comfortable because “you’ll keep your rib cage open for easier breathing.” An arch in your lower back, a forward lean in your hips and a slouch in your shoulders all cause you to walk slower, Fenton writes.

Faster Steps

You will lose more weight and walk faster if your steps are faster, “The Complete Guide to Walking” reports. Fenton writes that you should focus on quick steps rather than longer steps because your stride will “naturally get longer” as your steps become faster. You should also count your steps--try to walk 135 to 150 steps per minute and try to have your feet hit the ground “practically beneath you, not out in front.”

Fast Arms

You maximize your speed and weight loss when you move your arms fast, according to “The Complete Guide to Walking.” “The arms and legs will always move in synchrony, and faster arms will make faster legs,” writes Fenton. The author’s tips for moving your arms rapidly include bending your arms at, but not more than, a right angle; not bending your elbows; and moving your hands from waist level when your arms are behind you to chest level as your arms are in front of you.

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